Overtime

By From Wire Reports

College Softbal

Reports says coach knew about problem

A team physician routinely gave University of Washington softball players painkillers and muscle relaxants before games, earning him the nicknames "Dr. Feelgood" and "the candyman," according to a report released Tuesday.

The internal university report focuses on William Scheyer, the former softball team physician whose license was suspended last year after state officials accused him of improperly distributing pain medication to players.

One player said Scheyer gave her between 100 and 180 narcotic pills in a two-year period. At one point, she was taking the medication two or three times daily.

The report said former softball coach Teresa Wilson and former athletic director Barbara Hedges knew or should have known about the medications.

Wilson sued the school over her dismissal this week, alleging she was wrongfully fired in December amid fallout from the Scheyer case.

College Basketball

NCAA gives Auburn two-year probation

The NCAA placed Auburn's basketball program on two-year probation, cutting one scholarship but exonerating the university of major rules violations.

The ruling cleared Auburn of the most serious allegations in a two-year probe into the recruitment of high school prospects Chadd Moore and Jackie Butler, including offering cash and cars.

The university, which had denied the major allegations, had already self-imposed penalties, including the loss of one scholarship.

Coach Cliff Ellis, who was not implicated by the NCAA, was fired on March 18 and replaced by former Chattanooga coach Jeff Lebo.

Sue Gunter retired as Louisiana State's longtime women's basketball coach because of her health and was replaced by Pokey Chatman, who took the Lady Tigers to their first Final Four this year.

Gunter, 62, had been on leave this season with respiratory problems.

She has coached LSU the past 22 years and compiled 708 wins over her 44-year college career. Gunter, who was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2000, had 21 seasons with at least 20 victories.

Tennis

Wimbledon payday could top $1 million

Wimbledon could have its first $1 million winners at this summer's

tournament. The men's champion will receive $1,077,270 at the current exchange rate, with the top woman getting $1,002,174, organizers said Tuesday.

Tim Phillips, the chairman of the All England Club, noted that players will benefit from the rising value of the pound against the American dollar. Total prize money for the June 21-July 4 tournament will be $17,356,616, a 16.4 percent increase.

Last year, men's champion Roger Federer won $914,250 and women's champ Serena Williams won $850,650. This year, the winners will earn more because of bigger prize money and a different exchange rate.

British tennis writer John Parsons, who covered 44 Wimbledon tournaments, died of kidney failure Monday. He was 66.

Parsons died at Mercy Hospital in Miami, Fla. He was covering the Nasdaq-100 Open when he was hospitalized in March.

Parsons, who received a kidney transplant in 1982, was the tennis correspondent for The Daily Telegraph for 23 years. The Lawn Tennis Association's chief executive, John Crowther, called Parsons "Mr. Tennis."

Soccer

Maradona's health begins to improve

Diego Maradona opened his eyes and began taking liquids after more than a week in intensive care.

But the 43-year-old Argentine soccer great remained under a "guarded prognosis" and in intensive care after he was admitted to a hospital April 18 with serious heart and lung problems.

A medical update Tuesday said Maradona's response to his medical treatment was "satisfactory" and that he was breathing on his own.